Happy Fathers' Day!

eating: Greek tomato/zucchini couscous salad (recipe from the couscous box)
watching: Italy/New Zealand

So I'm a little late, but I figured out what I'm getting my dad for Fathers' Day.  On my long, hilly, hot run this morning, I listened to an interview with Barbara Kingsolver about her latest book (see left).  I love her anyway, and I think it's great that she and her family made a year-long commitment to become "locavores."  They moved to a farm in rural Virginia and grew their own vegetables, raised their own poultry, and got everything else they needed from farmers' markets.

Anyway, since retiring, my dad has evolved into quite the gardener/canner/beekeeper (e.g., according to his facebook status, he spent yesterday picking, prepping, and canning 19 quarts of early contender beans).  I inherited my parents' love for fresh produce, but so far I've been way too lazy to grow anything myself (when I had a yard, my dad even tilled a plot and planted tomatoes, which I quickly let become overgrown).  I'm so lazy I routinely let produce go bad in the refrigerator.  But no more!  We have a new Farmers' Market in our suburb, so I can at least take advantage of that.  Maybe I'll even try out that silly Topsy Turvy tomato planter on the deck (if it's not too late).  Stay tuned!

(As an aside, the training is going well, even if I did wipe out on my run today. Did I mention it was long, hot, and hilly?  I think I still have dirt imbedded in my arm, but I wasn't hurt, so I really can't complain.)

Race Report

Last Saturday morning I happened to wake up early enough to head over to the Perimeter Mall area for the Save Our Skin 5K, a sun-safety awareness run to kick off the summer. I think running with the aforementioned Garmin helped my pace. I even may have PR'd (I can't be 100% sure as my race record-keeping over the past 6 years leaves something to be desired). AND I opted for the free skin check, which I passed (woot! woot!).

Other races on tap for the summer: Pride 5K (best race T-shirts, by far) and of course the Peachtree Road Race (not my favorite 10K in the world, but it's tradition).

drinking confession

So the lot of us (well, the cute husband, Jimmy # 2, and I anyway) are all addicted to the following concoction blended into what tastes like a Reese's cup milkshake (after all, there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's cup).

So without further ado, here is the recipe for the You got your chocolate in my peanut butter! Protein Shake:

• 1 cup milk (Silk light vanilla for me, Mayfield skim for them)
• 1 T. Smucker's natural creamy peanut butter
• 1 scoop Wholefoods brand chocolate soy protein powder
• 8-10 ice cubes

Blend.
Enjoy.
Thank me for it later.

It's the gustatory highlight of my day.

week dos

I haven't had much to say, but I did complete Week 1: 4 miles last Tuesday, 2.7 Wednesday, and 4 Friday. My long runs will now be on Sundays with hill work early on.  I had to do Sunday's run yesterday (Monday) as the cute husband had to leave at 6:30 (a.m.!) to referee (and the young'un is still too young to leave at home).  Anyway, so I did 5 miles yesterday with some hillwork.  I also did yoga a couple of times in there.   Four miles this morning to start out Week 2.  School's out, so that helps with the schedule.  Oh, and I got a new Garmin 405, which seriously rocks.

Jimmy #1 has his first swim meet of the season tonight.  Go Warriors!

Happy Mothers' Day!

I finally ran today for the first time since the fake marathon.  I think the Gomers recently mentioned or suggested listening to music and sprinting during the chorus, slowing down on the verses.  I tried that, and it was fun!  And I finally wore the cute new outfit I bought for the marathon (but then ditched because the top is white and I feared being rained/tornadoed-upon). 

Time to put on my cute new bathing suit and enjoy the rest of Mothers' Day at the pool!  (Yes, I have a shopping problem.  Believe it or not, it's why I won't play tennis... I've seen the tennis section at Sports Authority, and it could easily spell trouble!)

No Sticker Yet

So I did get diverted at Mile 11 to the half-marathon finish (due to the tornado rolling in to Nashville).  My time was 2:22, which is my slowest half-marathon time.  But considering I didn't know whether I was running a half or a full until Mile 11, it is what it is.  Found out the Apalachicola marathon in October is basically 26 miles uphill.  So now I'm looking at OBX (see countdown, right), which is already a special place as it's where I married the cute husband.  That gives me three weeks until training officially starts...

well, all right then

From the marathon website:

Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Weather Contingency Plan:

After consultation with all the involved city authorities, due to the weather forecast in the Nashville area which is projecting severe afternoon storms, the MARATHON will most likely be subject to an abbreviated timeline.

At this time, there is a contingency plan to limit the marathon to 4:30 and under*. Any runner who is behind this pace (10:20 per mile) at mile 11.2 will be directed to complete the half marathon course. This timeline may change based on what actual race day weather pattern.

While we know that this will be a disappointment to some (as it is to us); if implemented, this plan is in the best interests and safety of all involved, especially the participants and volunteers. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

*Time based on chip time, not gun time.

Tornadothon

Forecast:  Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail, and possibly a tornado with some storms.

As the cute husband said, next time I blog, it'll be from Oz!